Easy Homemade Brownies

Who doesn't love sweets?

With most of the continental U.S. under not-so-favorable weather, it's hard to keep boredom from catching up! Today is day 4 of snow and ice barricading me inside the house and although I totally don't mind lounging around all day, my toddler is NOT okay with that. Finding ways to keep the both of us busy is a hard task. But there is one thing he does love... Cooking!

When it's time to cook breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I always try to draw his attention by making it seem exciting. Usually, it's by telling him "We gotta fix supper for Daddy!" and he'll come running to help me. 

So when I caught him standing on the back of the couch, playing with the thermostat, I knew I was in for it today. 

My child and husband both love chocolate, so why not entice him into making something he'll love?

What you will need:

• 1/2 cup Flour
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1/3 cup Cocoa
• 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 2 Eggs
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2. Mix dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt) together in a bowl until well blended.
3. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil into dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
4. Pour mix into glass baking dish and bake approximately 10 minutes until well done.

Once you remove your brownies from the oven, poke a small hole in the center to make sure they are thoroughly done. After cooking down, cut brownies into squares and dig in!

Homemade Valentine Sugar Cookies

What says "I love you" more than homemade cookies?

And I have the perfect sugar cookie recipe guaranteed to melt hearts! My husband and son both loved them!

What you'll need:

• 2 sticks butter (1 cup) softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 2 1/4 cups flour

First, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Next mix butter, sugar, vanilla extract, & egg in large mixing bowl on low. Blend until smooth. Slowly add flour while continuously mixing. Once all flour is mixed well, roll cookie dough onto flour-dusted surface and use cookie cutters (optional) to make adorable shapes. Place cookies onto pan rough 1 inch apart and pop into the oven for approximately 8-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Homemade No-Bake Cinnamon Ornaments

It's time for the holidays! And I've been brainstorming Christmas crafts that are adorable, memorable, and (most importantly!) kid safe. Finally I stumbled upon the perfect idea.. Homemade ornaments!

What you will need:
     - 1/2 cup Cinnamon
     - 1 cup Flour
     - 1/2 cup Salt
     - 3/4 cup hot water

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix until the combination becomes dough-like. Knead the cinnamon salt ball with hands. After a few minutes you will have a large ball of dough.

Use cookie cutters to make your favorite shapes. Press down firm enough and remove excessive dough. I used a pencil to create small holes just big enough for twine or string.

After you have your desired shapes, I recommend transferring the ornaments to a paper towel for drying - paper towel will help soak up some of the moisture during the drying process!And speaking of drying, these bad boys will have to dry for 24 hours before you can hang them! About halfway through, be sure to flip the ornaments over so both sides will dry evenly.

After about 24 hours, you should have this adorable ornament that makes your entire home smell delicious!